Nita Lake Lodge set for a strong winter season

Lodge is in good financial standing, says COO

In a press release BHRBC's president Mike Duggan said the reason was because of "the continued deterioration of the relationship between ourselves, the owner and their self-appointed receiver has led us to believe this decision is in the best interests of BHRBC at this time."

Turner said she took issue with Duggan's statement.

"There is no reason for all the rumours out there," Turner reiterated. "I'm not going to say that it didn't have its challenges through construction, and it has, but we are working very closely with the banks, and I don't see there is any reason for it not to be thriving well into the future."

She is disappointed by the "swirling of rumours that keep popping up in the community when there really isn't any reason.

"That is the thing that is the most disheartening for us when there are so many good and positive things happening at Nita Lake Lodge."

The hotel's relationship with suppliers has improved since Integrated Hospitality Management took over management operations in April this year, she added.

"A lot of work has been done by our new management team to rebuild the relationship with suppliers and the community," said Turner. "We have a new general manager and he will be looking to forge even greater relationships with people in the community.

"We want to be a big part of the Whistler community. We haven't had the opportunity yet to do that, but we are looking forward to building that."

Last week, Whistler council gave third reading to the agreement which would see Nita Lake Lodge Corporation give the municipality $950,000 and a 0.717 hectare plot of land in lieu of building the last 22 units of resident restricted housing, a requirement under the initial development agreement.

Under that original agreement, the corporation was required to build a total of 66 resident-restricted units. The company built 44 units in 2006.

Once the settlement is finalized, the municipality plans to deposit the $950,000 into a "Cheakamus Crossing Affordable Employee Housing Reserve Fund" to fund the Whistler Housing Authority's building in the athletes' village/Cheakamus Crossing neighbourhood.

Councillor Eckhard Zeidler, who asked municipal staff last week during the public meeting about the hotel's financial status, added this week that council is aware Nita Lake is making "every effort to work through some challenging financial problems."

"It is my view that council has an obligation to let the community know why we make serious decisions - in this case, releasing Nita Lake Lodge from the remainder of the resident housing obligations and taking the cash and property instead - and that is why I asked that question," he said.